The Navy’s modern-day equivalent of its swift-boat force is opening itself to women.

The Navy announced Friday that 13 women have been identified to join its Coastal Riverine Force, a group of sailors trained to fight in shallow water and rivers from small boats.

Nine women are already assigned to the Coastal Riverine Squadron 2, Delta Company, in Portsmouth, Va., and are now eligible to be fully integrated into the unit and its combat training. Navy riverine squadrons are based in Virginia and San Diego.

Before stepping down as defense secretary last year, Leon Panetta, ordered the policy barring women from ground combat positions be ended. Since then the various military services have moved at varying speeds to expand the jobs open to women.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said that opening the squadrons is part of the ongoing effort to maximize professional opportunities.

“This not only makes us better warfighters, but it ensures our Navy and Marine Corps remains the finest expeditionary fighting force in the world,” Mr. Mabus said in a statement.

During Vietnam, the Navy’s swift boats patrolled the rivers and deltas, fighting insurgents. While Navy special operation forces have long operated small boats, the larger conventional Navy forces revived its the small boat capability during the Iraq war, and Navy sailors began patrolling Iraq’s rivers.

The Navy has long allowed women to serve on its warships, and in recent years has opened up service on its submarines. With the opening of the riverine units, only the Navy’s Special Warfare community, which includes the SEALs, remains closed to women, Navy officials said.

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